The Rising Truth

The other side

Hiroshi and Marianne are important for a reason. I needed a connection between Shoma and Sendai and I wanted someone who was close to Shoma's age but was older and already in a relationship. He and Yuzuru haven't been in a romantic relationship before, so what they know are from people around them, what they read in books, or what they see on TV. Yuzuru has Javier and Miki as an example of a stable romantic relationship. Shoma needs one too. Also, we both know that Yuzuru and Shoma are just going to skirt around the issue for 20 chapters if they get no push.

Shoma pov.
"Shoma, wake up. We're here." Marianne was nudging me.

Team Challenge Cup was in Spokane. We arrived 4 days before the event since I usually get jet lagged and my sleep schedule gets messed up. Marianne was here because of a medical conference, but it could be that she needed a break.

We were sitting in her hotel room having lunch.

"Are you nervous?"

"Huh. No, not really. I'm nervous about landing my quad flip, but that's it."

" You're so mature, Shoma. I'm jealous." She laughed and leaned back into her chair.

" Yuzuru is a lot more mature than me though"

"He is also 3 years older than you so don't compare yourself with him."

" He's a lot more eloquent and philosophical. Every time he has an interview, Japan falls head over heels in love with him."

She throws her head backs and laughed. "That's true. A lady at the supermarket nearly ran me over with her cart for the last box of Xylitol gum, because Yuzuru was on it."

 I look down at my knees. I'm really happy she came. She wouldn't laugh at me for asking a question like this. 

"When you met Hiroshi, did you guys fall in love at first sight?"

"Um... No. I thought he was a pretentious prick." I looked up in shock.

"Then how did you guys get together?" 

"We worked together and saw each other at conferences but we didn't get along with each other. We came to love each other over time after I became less defensive and he became less prideful."

"What's love?"

"What is love? It is what causes me to get up at 5:00 am to make breakfast for Hiroshi before he goes to residency. It's me holding myself back from getting angry whenever he has a work emergency. It's him understanding that I don't want to put my career on the side. Love is a feeling but it is also a connection. It's special. They know what make you smile and they know what makes you tick. They value the relationship as much as you do. They do little things like pick up the groceries or do the laundry, and those little acts mean the world to you. Love cannot be boxed. Love can be many things Shoma, but when you feel it, you'll know."

Do I know what makes Yuzuru tick? Do I know what makes him smile? Do he and I share that connection? Why am I thinking about him? Those questions followed me through the competition. It was on my mind when I landed the quad flip and to the award ceremonies and interviews.

Y: Congratulations on winning. And on that quad flip

S: You watched?

Y: Of course! You were amazing

S: Thank you, Yuzuru